Major Nur Ali told Reuters that Somali and AMISOM forces had attacked al Shabaab in rural areas near the base on Saturday night.

At least 22 of the attackers were killed and the rest were repelled, he said.

The Ugandan military, meanwhile, has only confirmed the deaths of four soldiers.

"That attack was repulsed but several soldiers have lost their lives to the bomb", said Hassan.

However, Brig Karemire rebutted: "Do not fall into the propaganda of al-Shabaab. 11 years since UPDF sent troops to Somalia's civil war, there seems to be no end plan", Former FDC party president, Dr Kizza Besigye said Monday.

Al-Shabab militants, however, still retain a significant presence, reportedly roaming freely and posing a threat in regions outside the capital where the central government has little control.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed that it had killed 59 Ugandan troops, a claim the Somali Security Ministry spokesman had denied.

The group was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 by Somali troops backed by AMISOM soldiers.

The Somali government appeared to confirm that the poet was among the slain, but defended the United States attack, saying that his poetry could "incite violence" and had at times been used in al-Shabaab recruiting materials.

Nelson Cruz (ankle) sitting out Sunday as Mariners host Indians
The Mariners lost Saturday afternoon 6-5 to the Cleveland Indians , but the play heard 'round baseball belonged to Ichiro . The home run to Haniger were the first two runs given up by Olson in a little over a year with the Indians .Tuesday, April 03, 2018